Ken Clay, Former Yankees Pitcher, Dies at 71

Ken Clay, who helped the New York Yankees clinch the World Series title in both 1977 and 1978 and enjoyed a notable five-year career in Major League Baseball, has passed away at the age of 71.

Dr. Jim Warner, the executive medical director at the Centra Heart and Vascular Institute in Lynchburg, Virginia, informed the Yankees on Sunday that Clay passed away at his home on Thursday. Warner stated that heart and kidney issues were the causes of his death.

Primarily working as a relief pitcher, Clay made his major league debut in June 1977 and appeared in two World Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Notably, in 1978, during his singular appearance against the Dodgers, he hit a three-run homer in Game 1 against Davey Lopes.

His standout postseason performance came during the opening game of the 1978 American League Championship Series against Kansas City. Coming in with one out and the bases loaded, Clay helped the Yankees secure a 4-0 lead and went on to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings, recording a save in the team’s 7-1 victory.

Clay wrapped up the 1979 season in the minors, finishing with a 1-7 record. The next year, still in the minors, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Gaylord Perry. Clay started eight games for the Rangers in 1980, achieving a 2-3 record before being traded to the Seattle Mariners after that season. However, he was released during spring training in 1982.

Throughout his major league career, Clay played in 111 games, with 36 of those being starts. He concluded with a record of 10 wins, 24 losses, 3 saves, and a 4.68 earned run average (ERA).

On a different note, his time with the Yankees wasn’t free of controversy. In 1979, the team’s owner, George Steinbrenner, publicly criticized Clay for his struggles on the field, derisively dubbing him a “morning glory.”

Clay also faced some legal challenges post-baseball. In 1987, he pled guilty in Virginia to stealing over $16,000 from his employer. Later, in 1992, he received a one-year prison sentence for stealing $550 from a car dealership. In 2001, he pleaded guilty in Florida to forgery and other crimes, agreeing to pay back over $40,000 to creditors after misusing his ex-girlfriend’s personal information to deceive credit card companies.